Steps will be taken to provide drinking water to 10,000 families in Mullaitivu and Weli Oya under the Mullaitivu Kivul Oya Mahaweli Joint Development Project in the Mahaweli L Zone, State Minister of Mahaweli Zones Canals, Settlement and Common Infrastructure Development, Siripala Gamalath said.
The state minister was speaking during an inspection tour in the area with regard to the future irrigation planning in Mullaitivu and Weli Oya, recently. Furthermore, Gamalath added that plans are also afoot to irrigate the lands of the farmers in Mullaitivu and Weli Oya by the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project.
State Minister Gamalath inspected the Mahakambiliyawa Wewa and Kivul Oya Reservoir Project which would be developed under the rehabilitation programme of 5,000 irrigation tanks within the next five years.
The rehabilitation work of the Mahakambiliyawa Wewa has already been commenced; it is expected to irrigate agricultural lands of a large number of farmer families under this project.
Health Authorities have pointed out that the number of kidney patients is on the increase in the area due to lack of proper drinking water. Therefore, it is expected to reduce the number of kidney patients by implementing the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project.
The Kivul Oya Reservoir Project is currently at research level, but it is scheduled to be commenced without delay. Meanwhile, State Minister Siripala Gamlath inspected the Weli Oya Stone Bridge as well. The stone bridge is a specific site with archaeological value. It unveils the pride of the ancient irrigation civilisations of Sri Lanka. This ancient engineering wonder, which exhibits the intricate skills of the local engineers, has now become a tourist attraction.
Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna Vavuniya District Organiser and former Deputy Minister Sumathipala Premarathna, Chairman of the Vavuniya Mullaitivu Districts Development Committee MP Cader Mastan, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority Director-General and Engineer Sunil S. Perera, Mahaweli Agriculture Director Neville Rajapaksa, and Mahaweli L Zone Residential Business Manager R.M.K.M. Randeniya also joined State Minister Siripala Gamalath in his inspection tour of the Weli Oya.
